Polk Street block party considered a success

Posted: Tuesday, August 21, 2001

Don Munschdmunsch@amarillonet.com

A Center City official said he expects the Polk Street Block Party to yield good results.

"We grossed in excess of $100,000, and that's before bills are paid. I don't know where we will fall in profit, but it will be good," said Wes Reeves, president of the Center City board. Center City sponsors the annual fund-raiser held Saturday in downtown Amarillo.

Reeves said Center City estimated the crowd at 15,000, but "that's not a real scientific number." He said it was likely one of the top crowds the 6-year-old event has had. He said measures used to count attendance include clickers, which he said may deliver an undercount because people at gates were overwhelmed; police estimates; a marketing survey done in the street; and ticket and product sales.

Reeves said Center City will have a better idea of attendance and profits in a couple of weeks. He said beverage sales were strong, and said one change that will be considered for next year will be efforts to increase the flow at beverage and ticket lines, which were long.

Perry Wells, manager of Brewster's Pub, said it was "business as usual" at the bar, and said he didn't have any problems as a result of the party.

Omer Malik, owner of Amigo's Cafe, said he thought he had more people than usual.

"We ran across people who did not know we were down here," said Scott Camarata, owner of Cafe Marizon on Polk Street. He said the block party is a "good tool to promote downtown."

"What makes the event so successful is the location, and people like to walk down busy downtown streets," Reeves said. "It just proves that people want this type of activity downtown."

Reeves said he and Penelope Davies, executive director of Center City, stayed Sunday morning to clean up and had "everything pretty well cleaned by sunrise." He said a wrapup meeting will be held in a couple of weeks to discuss plans for next year.